Maybelle Maniulit: Fabulous Recessionista | Foodie-in-training | Food Truck Chaser | HI transplant in SF
A milestone birthday called for a fabulous birthday party without the fabulous high price this year. And what theme could be more fab than prom?! My close friend since middle school, Enna, and I threw a joint prom party in Hawaii. Since I was flying to Hawaii from San Francisco, I needed this party to still be awesome while on a budget.
Here are 10 essential prom-esque components that made it successful without the high price tag:
I love ice cream - especially when free - and I love chasing those food trucks. Ben & Jerry’s truck will be giving away free ice cream for a month in LA and then SF. Follow them on Twitter: @BenJerrysWest
Recessionista approved: Get 50% off booze in the Bay Area via Yelp Drinks! April 4-10. What’s not to like about a week-long happy hour? (Check link for deets.)
Winner, winner, vegan Filipino dinner! If you’re familiar with Filipino cuisine, then you know that hearing the phrase “vegan Filipino food” is a lot like hearing bacon-wrapped Matzah balls - which, by the way, is delicious.
It was my duty as a recessionista to take advantage of a LivingSocial deal at vegan Filipino restaurant, No Worries, in Oakland to test this paradoxical cuisine. Keep in mind any type of “meat” is faux meat at No Worries, and bagoong - a pungent ingredient in Filipino dishes made of fermented fish - would be forbidden here.
The pancit bihon was on point, and was served early on as an appetizer. We ordered the “chicken” adobo since it’s a staple. Although it didn’t taste like adobo, it managed to taste good as its own dish. The sinigang with its catfish-looking pieces, however, was a let-down. The broth still needed to find its identity. It was an interesting experience, and I’m willing to return to test other dishes.
Last night the BF made corned beef & cabbage for dinner. I turned it into hash with eggs for brekky. #recessionista #food (Taken with Instagram at Home)
Did you get your free petite pastry at ‘Bucks yet? #recessionista (Taken with Instagram at Starbucks - Laurel Heights (24hr))
As a funemployed recessionista, I still want to satisfy my food curiosity in my new city. Tools like Scoutmob.com where you don’t need to pre-purchase a voucher to get 50% off your meal have been helpful in my dine-out conquest. This brings me to Uncle Boy’s in Inner Richmond.
The burgers at Uncle Boy’s are like your friend’s barbecue burgers with the works. They’re good, no-frills burgers. I ordered a Nephew’s burger, which is basically a classic with lettuce, tomato, and cheese with a touch of pesto sauce. My boyfriend opted for the popular Cowboy burger (pictured) - like Carl’s Jr. Western Cheeseburger done right without the ‘cue sauce overdone. How he managed to bite into the burger with the towering layers of onion rings is beyond me. It made for a reasonably priced, simple, tasty meal overall.
Where would I find a grip of “special” baked goods sellers, folk/country artists, and the need to immediately take a shower? The 10th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival at Golden Gate Park - a free, three-day, public concert event just a few blocks away from where I live.
On the last day and last hour of the festival, my friends watched Emmylou Harris perform. Instead I found myself alone, listening to Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. That Ms. Jones is a fireball of energy! There is no question that that band has a lot of heart and soul. With all due respect to Emmylou, sorry to my friends who missed out!
In light of the show, I’m posting my favorite song from them. Bummer they didn’t perform it because it’s a sure shot hit in my book, but I’m happy to have watched them again for the second time nonetheless.
SF Cocktail Week
When I drink alcohol, I don’t think about the distillation process, anything scientific behind it, or even the number of calories it contains. In fact, the point is to not think. SF Cocktail Week, however, and the lack of funds combined with the willingness to daytime-drink lured me into a presentation on the distillation of gin.
Let’s be honest: I’m not a gin drinker. The process that Oxley uses results in a limited distribution, and actually creates a Maybelly-approved gin might I add. The bartender gave us full glasses of it in addition to other delightful concoctions made of Oxley’s gin. Not only was the presentation interesting and educational, it also helped that the presenter was cute and extremely intelligent.
Oh, and the gin led to more North Beach drinking and Golden Boy Pizza. That pizza was amazing! Remind me to try that pizza again when I’m sober.
At the moment, I live in the foggy Sunset district, just a few blocks South of Golden Gate Park. I like to call it “Satellite Chinatown.” In between running errands I came across Happy Bakery, a hole-in-the-wall on Irving St at 24th Ave. Happy people working here? Not so much. Happy that dim sum to go rings up at $1.50 for 3? Heck yes.
